Typographical composing machine



y ,c. A. ALBRECHT 79,196

\ 'IYPCJGRAPI'IICAL COMPOS ING MACHINE I Filed Jan. 6, 1936 I/WE/VmR.

Patented May 4, 1937 TYPOGRAPHICAL COIVIPOSING MACHINE Christian Augustus Albrecht, Berlin, Germany, assignor to Mei-genthaler Linotype Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a company of New York 7 Application January 6, 1936, Serial No. 57,865

In Germany January 29, 1935 Claims.

This invention relates, to typographical composing machines, such as those known commer cially under the registered trade-mark Linotype, wherein key-controlled mechanism effects 5 thefrelease of matrices from a magazine, for

composition in line.

For the production of spaced-out lines in such machines, it has been proposed'to provide for the release of a space matrix'conjointly with the release of a characlO ter matrix, through the actuation of the mechanism for controlling the release of the character matrix, by coupling the character-matrix escapement reeds with a space-matrix escapement reed.

In this known arrangement, howi; ever, the space matrices are always released from the same space-matrix channel of the magazine, which may be so quickly emptied as to render the operation of the coupling device inefiective.

The invention overcomes this difiiculty by enabling space matrices to be drawn ber of magazine channels when device is in operation, and to'this end, according to the invention, a plurality character-matrix releasing devices from a numthe coupling of groups of are connecttivespace-matrix releasing device.

One constructional form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows in vertical section, the relevant parts of a key-controlled matrix releasing mechanism.

The mechanism illustrated is generally of known form comprising key levers'a which engage the keyboard bars 1) arranged in a row at the rear of the keyboard; trip dogs 0 actuated by the raising of the keyboard bars when the key levers are depressed; cam yokes d released by the actuation of the trip dogs 0;

continuously rotating rollers j with which cams e carried by the yokes d engage when the yokes are released, and escapement reeds g moved upwardly to actuate the magazine escapements when the yokes d are raised by the the rollers ;f on the cams e.

(not shown) action of According to the constructional form of the invention shown in the drawing the keyboard bars b are provided with rearwardly extending lugs h, and comprise four groups distinguished by the level at which the lugs h are located on the bars of the respective groups.

Each group conveniently consists of one-fourth of the total number of the keyboard bars employed for the release of character matrices, and the four groupshave their lugs located respectively in the positions indicated at h, M, h and'h This arrangement is appropriate to the release of space matrices from four different magazine channels, and for this purpose each keyboard bar employed for the release of space matrices is provided with a lug i which is formed like the lugs h inverted so that corresponding lugs h and i have their horizontal edges facing each other with a free space between them. The lugs on the four space-matrix releasing keyboard bars are arranged at respectively different levels, indicated at z, i i 13 corresponding with the levels of the lugs h, h n a of the different groups of character-matrix releasing keyboard bars.

In guides m behind the keyboard bars there is mounted a carriage n which can be moved forwardly and backwardly by means of a handle 0. In the said carriage, lever arms q carrying rails or bails r are pivoted on studs p. In their normal position, as illustrated in the drawing, these lever arms q are held against stops t by means of springs s.

The mode of operation of the above-described arrangement is as follows. When the carriage n is in the inoperative position shown in the drawing, the keyboard mechanism operates in the usual, manner, but, when the carriage n is moved forwardly by means of the handle 0, the four bails r are located above the lugs h, h h h of the respective groups of character-matrix releasing keyboard bars, and below the lugs 2', 1 2' i of the corresponding space-matrix releasing bars. Thus, when a keyboard bar having a lug at the level It is actuated by the striking of the connected key, the bail r at that level will be turned upwardly about the stud p and will carry with it the respective space-matrix releasing keyboard bar, by engagement with the lug A corresponding action takes place when a keyboard bar of any of the other three groups is actuated through the co-o-peration of the related bail r, lugs h h or h and lugs 1 i 2*.

The distance between the horizontal operative surfaces of the lugs h and 2', h and 2' etc., is arranged so that the release of the spacematrices is slightly delayed to ensure that the latter reach the line in all cases after the character matrices are delivered. A corresponding delay could also be provided for in a manner heretofore proposed, by altering the shape of the keyboard cams for the space matrices.

The striking of character keys of the different groups thus results in the release of space matrices from different magazine channels, and a shortage of space matrices is avoided.

The constructional form of mechanism above described has been chosen as a convenient example, and it will be understood that modifications in the form and mode of operation of the parts may be made without departing from the invention. For instance, the bails 1' might be brought into and out of operative position by a pivotal instead of a sliding movement, and the number of the space-matrix channels employed, and consequently the grouping of the charactermatrix releasing keyboard bars, may be varied to suit particular requirements. Further, recesses in the keyboard bars could be provided in place of the before-described lugs thereon.

It will be understood that the space matrices herein referred to may be any of the blank matrices used in the commercial machines and known as em or en quads or thin spacers. As heretofore stated, it is common practise (especially in connection with foreign languages) to compose these space matrices between letter matrices in order to produce a spaced out line. The regular expansible spacebands will be composed between words as ordinarily, unless the nature of the Work is such as to call for blank matrices even for word spacing in which case such blank matrices will be released by means of the regular keys provided for the purpose.

Having described my invention, I declare that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of space-matrix re- 40 leasing devices, a corresponding plurality of groups of character-matrix releasing devices, and means associated with each such group and with a respective space-matrix releasing device adapted to effect the actuation of said space-matrix 45 releasing device through the actuation of any one of the character-matrix releasing devices of the respective group.

2. In a typographical composing machine, the

combination of a plurality of space-matrix re leasing devices, a corresponding plurality of groups of character-matrix releasing devices, motion transmiting means associated with each such group and with a respective space-matrix releasing device adapted to effect the actuation of said space matrix releasing device through the actuation of any one of the character-matrix releasing devices of the respective group, and means adapted to render said motion transmitting means operative and inoperative at will.

3. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of space-matrix releasing keyboard bars, a group of character-ma.- trix releasing keyboard bars appropriate to each space-matrix releasing keyboard bar, a bail appropriate to each such group adapted to connect the bars thereof with the respective space-matrix releasing keyboard bar, and means adapted to render the bails operative and inoperative at will.

4. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of groups of keyboard bars, each of which groups comprises one spacematrix releasing bar and a plurality of charactermatrix releasing bars, shoulders on the bars of each group located at one level difierent from the level of those on the other groups, a bail appropriate to each group located at the level of the shoulders on the bars of the respective group, and means adapted to move the bails into and out of engaging relationship with the said shoulders.

5. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of groups of keyboard bars, each of which groups comprises one spacematrix releasing bar and a plurality of character- 5;;

matrix releasing bars, shoulders on the bars of each group located at one level different from the level of those on the other groups, a plurality of bails one appropriate to each group of keyboard bars, superposed pivoted levers on which said bails are carried at levels corresponding to the levels of the shoulders on the keyboard bars of the respective groups, a carriage supporting said levers, and means adapted to adjust said carriage to bring the bails into and out of engaging relationship with the said shoulders.

CHRISTIAN AUGUSTUS ALBRECHT. 

